Champions League knockout phase play-off draw [Full list]

With some of Europe’s biggest clubs involved, the knockout play-offs are set to be highly competitive as teams battle for a place in the next stage of the tournament.

 

The draw for this season’s UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs was conducted on Friday (31 January), setting up exciting clashes between some of Europe’s top clubs.

In the new format for the top continental club competition in European men’s football, eight teams have already secured direct qualification to the Round of 16 following the conclusion of the league phase. Meanwhile, teams that finished between 9th and 24th in the league standings will compete in a two-legged play-off next month to fight for a place in the next round.

What are the Champions League knockout phase play-off ties?

• Brest vs Paris Saint-Germain
• Monaco vs Benfica
• Juventus vs PSV Eindhoven
• Feyenoord vs Milan
• Manchester City vs Real Madrid
• Celtic vs Bayern München
• Club Brugge vs Atalanta
• Sporting CP vs Borussia Dortmund

The first legs of the knockout play-off round take place on February 11-12 with the return legs on February 18-19.

Draw format explained

Teams finishing between ninth and 16th in the league will be seeded for the play-off round.

They will face an unseeded team that finished between 17th and 24th in the table – with the seeded team also having the benefit of playing the second leg at home.

Sides will also be paired together in the draw, meaning that the two sides who finished ninth and 10th will be drawn against either the 23rd or 24th placed sides.

Teams who finished 11th and 12th will be drawn against either the 21st or 22nd-placed sides, and so on.

The eight winners from the play-offs will meet the teams who finished in the top eight from the initial league phase in the last-16.

Teams waiting in the UCL last-16

• Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, and Aston Villa.

When are the Champions League knockout phase matches?

Knockout phase play-offs: 11/12 & 18/19 February 2025
Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final draw: 21 February 2025
Round of 16: 4/5 & 11/12 March 2025
Quarter-finals: 8/9 & 15/16 April 2025
Semi-finals: 29/30 April & 6/7 May 2025
Final: 31 May 2025